A WVU freshman took home the top prize — $1,500 — in the WVHI Scholarship Program.
The West Virginia Housing Institute in Charleston said Lilly Ware, 18, epitomizes the outreach of the WVHI Scholarship Program.
Ware’s parents — Jason and Chasity Ware of Sutton — bought a manufactured home from American Homes in Morgantown earlier this year, making her eligible for the award. Holly Heiskell Glenn, sales and marketing manager for the company and a member of the WVHI board of directors, nominated Ware.
Ware, a nursing major, won the $1,500 Kevin and Donna Wilfong Scholarship. She was the only purchaser-candidate nominated for this top prize this year.
In a press release, the WVHI executive director Andy Gallagher said, “Glenn has developed a powerful track record for nominating successful scholarship candidates.”
Three other state women also won scholarships through the program.
Kinsey Hershberger of Fairmont won a $1,000 scholarship, as did Kimberly Gunnell of Winfield and Hannah Brown of Martinsburg. All university freshmen, Gunnell attends Marshall University, while the others are students at WVU.
“I am very grateful to have received this scholarship,” Ware said. “Thank you again. This is the first time I have won.”
Hershberger is the daughter of Kris Hershberger, owner of Middletown Home Sales in Fairmont, and co-president of the association.
“I am really grateful for the opportunity to accept this scholarship … as it will help in my academic journey.” she said. She is studying criminology.
Brown, 21, a junior at WVU, is majoring in psychology and communications. She has won the scholarship three times and her twin sister also has won the scholarship. Their father, J.C. Brown, works for Farmers and Mechanics Insurance Companies of Martinsburg, a WVHI member.
Gunnell is a graduate student at Marshall University and the daughter of WVHI Co-President George Gunnell.
“I would like to thank you all for selecting me for this wonderful scholarship opportunity,” Gunnell said.
